Panthers get the 8-0 win in rain-soaked opener

Sep 05, 2009

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Birmingham-Southern women’s soccer team made easy work of the visiting Huntingdon College Hawks, winning 8-0 in their season opener at BSC Soccer Park.

Senior #Serena Murphy# returned from a season-ending injury last season to give the Panthers their first goal of the season off a nice cross from #Sara Menton#.The goal turned out to also be the winning goal, as the Panther defense allowed just one Hawk shot on the night.

Menton scored her own goal on the next trip down the pitch to get her first of two on the night, putting BSC up 2-0 and the Panthers took over from there.#Linda Amaya# scored in the 11th-minute, and #Alicia Plotky# added the Panthers’ fourth in the 32nd, putting ‘Southern up 4-0 at the half.

The Hawks came out of the halftime huddle with a new spring in their step, determined to make a game of the night, but just under halfway through the second period the Panther offense recovered.#Devon Weldon# got her first collegiate goal in the 68th-minute. Then Menton and Plotky each got their second goal of the match, all in the span of ten minutes.

Adding to the Hawks woes on the night, in the 79th-minute a Huntingdon defender attempting to clear the ball out of bounds misfired and sent the ball shooting past her own keeper, giving #Jillian Theibert# her first goal of the season due to her proximity to the play.

Panther coach Benji Walton was pleased with his team’s effort in the dreary conditions.“It was really good to see our girls get out and play so well.They showed lots of energy and enthusiasm, which is not easy when you’re soaked to the bone.Sarah and Alicia both played particularly well tonight and it was very encouraging to see Serena come back from her injury and be as effective as she was her first game back.”

The Panthers will take this momentum and try and carry it over on the road Monday, as they face Auburn-Montgomery at 4:00 in a Labor Day matchup with the Senators.